Cracker case



. 1,556,924 J. B. FRANKE Oct.- 13, 1925- CRACKER CASE Filed Jan, 26. 1924 's Sheets-Sheet s Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

JOHN B. FRANKE, or FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ssIeNoR To PERFECTION BISCUIT COMPANY, or ro-a'r'wAY E, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or INDIANA.

GRACKER CASE.

Application filed January 26, 1924. Serial No. 688,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. FRANKIE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Fort lVayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cracker Cases, of which the following is a specificationf My invention has general reference to cracker cases of that type used by dealers to display bulk quantities of crackers, or

- the like, to be sold out in small individual lots. Such cases generally have been known and used for inanyyears and the invention, therefore, relatesin particular to certain improvements and novel features as will hereinafter appear.

(he of the important objects of the invention is the provision, in a cracker case of this character, of a heating device for maintaining a suitable temperature and air condition to keep the crackers crisp and in best vendible condition.

' Another object :isthe provision of such a heating device of convenient form and mounting arrangement.

I A further important purpose of the invention is to provide a display case of striking appearance, produced by means of an advertising sign thereon and means'for illuminating said sign to attract the eye of a customer.

It is also an object of the invention to *provide the above features of advantage in conjunction with each other, since the heating device and light can be served from a single electric wire and can be so related as to form a single convenient electric unit.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

"1 Figure l is a front elevation of a cracker case in which my invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a front-to-back section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar section, taken substan tially on the section line -14t in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the case; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the heater mounting.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown upon the drawings a cracker case in which it is embodied. Said case may be ofany preferred general con struction, being preferably of pleasing design and, in the present instance, being pro vided with glass panels on three sides there of to expose the contents to view.

The case is formed with front corner uprights 21, side uprights 21 adjacent said front uprights and rear corner uprights 22, sald uprights being connected atthe top and bottom by cross pieces 23 and front-to-back pieces 24, forming a rectangular frame. A cover 25 is secured in place in any desired manner and facing strips 26 and 27 are provided, respectively, at the top and bottom of the case to strengthen the same and give a pleasing appearance thereto. A cross board 28 at the bottom and a narrower board at the top provide, with the front uprights 21, a casing for a glass pane 31. Side panes 32 are secured in upper and lower boards 33 and 3st and in the uprights 21 and 22. A thin rear board 35 is secured to cross pieces 36 and 37 and vertical strips 30 attached to the inner side of the uprights 22.

Beneath the cross piece 37 there is provided a door 38 hinged at 39 to the bottom cross piece 23 and having an inwardly extending flange 40 adapted to fit within the strips 30 when said door is closed. A bottom member 41 is positioned upon the cross pieces and 24 and extends rearwardly across the rear cross piece 23. Said door 38 .is provided with a latch 42 and is adapted to be turned down to horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in F ig. 2. The contents of the case may be removed by a scoop, orotherwise, through said door.

For the purpose of maintaining an even temperature and a dry atmospheric condition within the case, I provide an electric heater, indicated generally at 4:3 and comprising a heating element secured by a plate 4.3 to the under side of a board 44 attached to strips 45 adapted to be disposed diagonally across the lower part of the case. Cross pieces 46 connect the strips 45 at the center and top, a space being left at the bottom permitting the crackers to fall therethrough onto the floor 41. The mounting, as a whole, is bodily removable from the case. The heater 43 is supplied with current by a wire 47 extending down inside the back board 35 and being secured to the edge of the mounting board M: by means of acollar 48. Said wire extends through the back board 35 to a switch49 connected by wires 51 With any suitable source of current.

From the switch 49, a wire 52 leads forwardly to an electric light 53 mounted in a socket 54.- depending from a supporting block 55, a reflector 56 being positioned upon said light. An advertising sign, indicated at 57 and, in the present instance, bearing the words Hot P. V. crackers, is provided upon the front pane 31 and is adapted to be illuminated by the light 53. The body of the sign, as shown, is red with white letters thereon and the efiect of the lightbehind the glass is to provide a striking appearance adapted to attract the attention of customers.

The crackers are kept in the best vendible condition by means of the heater 4.3 and are displayed to advantage by means of the transparent walls of the case and illuminated sign just described. The light and heater may be served from the same source of current and the electrical attachments thus form a single, easily positioned unit.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being mere-- ly a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1.,A cracker case, comprising a display holder having a door near the bottom thereof for removalof the crackers, a heater disposed within the holder adjacent said door, and a mounting for said heater extending diagonally across the lower part of the holder when positioned therein and having an. open section permitting the crackers to pass therethrough into position to be scooped up from said door.

2. A cracker case, comprising a display holder having a transparent wall therein, an advertising sign on a portion of said wall. and means for illuminating said sign.

3. A cracker case, comprising a display holder having a transparent wall therein, an advertising sign on a portion of said wall, and an electric light disposed within the holder behind said sign to illuminate the latter.

4. A cracker case, comprising a display holder having a transparent wall therein, a 'door near the bottom thereof for removal of the crackers, a partially transparent advertising sign on a portion of said wall, illuminating means adjacent said sign, and defleeting means for confining the illumination of said illuminating means to the portion of said transparent wall occupied by said advertising sign.

5. A cracker case, comprising, a displayholder having a transparent wall therein, an electric heater disposed within said holder for conditioning crackers in said case, a

partially transparent display sign, illuminating means adjacent said sign, and reflecting means for reflecting the light from said illuminating means through said partially transparent display sign.

(i. A cracker case, comprising, a display holder having a transparent wall therein, a door near the bottom of said holder for reinoval of the crackers, a partially transparent advertising sign on a'portion of said wall, illuminating means adj acentsaid sign, deflecting means for confining illumination of said illuminating means to the portion of said transparent wall occupied by said advertising sign, a heater disposed within the holder adjacent said door, and a mounting for said heater extending diagonally across the lower part of the holder and having an open section permitting the crackers to pass therethrough into position to beremoved through said door.

JOHN B. FRANKE. 

